A few of us are having a recce over the New Year’s Day course on Sunday, starting from St Johns FC at 09:30. The recce will take the form of a very low-key handicap race with the slowest starting first and (hopefully!) everyone finishing together.
We’ll go for coffee & cake somewhere after.
n.b. Don’t forget to come down with an estimate of your race time!
2011 has been without doubt the most successful season in the long history of Manx Fell Running. Entries have been at record levels in every race apart from the Manx Mountain Marathon. The number of women competitors has also shown a very healthy increase which has been one of the most pleasing aspects of the season.
The season opened on New Years Day with 122 competitors at the St Johns race. All entry fees were donated to charity and along with donations from spectators MFR were able to pass over more than £800 to Hospice.
There was considerable success in off island competition with Lloyd Taggart winning the English Fell running Championships: he also retained his British Veterans title and came second overall in the Championship series.
The Isle of Man was represented in the Commonwealth Mountain Running Championships in Llanberis and at the same venue three juniors took part in the British Junior Home International. The junior event is held annually and there is every possibility that we will be able to send more juniors in the coming years. Each home country takes it in turn to stage the international and we are hopeful that eventually it will be held on the Isle of Man.
In October the Junior Fell Championships were held at Peel. It attracted 105 youngsters from the age of six. This was a most remarkable event with a quite superb atmosphere generated by the school children and their parents. There is still huge potential to greatly increase the numbers of schools involved in this event. Talks are already ongoing for next year.
The first in a planned series of navigation courses was held in August which was very well received. It is planned to hold further courses in 2012.
Finally the Winter Hill League is currently being held. The first two rounds have attracted 93 runners which is way above the previous best.
The one negative this year has been the continued decrease in numbers in the MMM. In a bid to halt this trend the committee of the MFR have taken the bold decision to move the race to a much later date. It is accepted that this is a fairly big gamble but it is one that MFR are prepared to take.
A few league finishers have enquired about changing their league sweatshirts as the sizes they ordered were either smaller or larger than they expected. Unfortunately we only order exact numbers and sizes so there are no others in stock. If anyone is looking for a change can they contact Richie on rstevenson@manx.net giving the size they have and their preferred one and I will see if there in any scope to do a few swaps. +++
The opening round of the 2012 Rentokil sponsored Manx Fell Running League takes place on its traditional New Years Day date again next year. The Supercards sponsored St Johns Fell Race will see runners facing a short 3 miles blast to the summit of Slieau Whallian and back, starting and finishing at St Johns football club.
Start time is 2.00pm with registration from 1.00pm at the clubhouse. Minimum age is 12 years on race day. All entry fees will be donated to two charities, Rebecca House and the Hyperbaric Chamber.
Competitors are invited to take part in fancy dress, no theme this year, with an award to the best dressed runner. There will also be an award to the first male and female finisher who has taken part in the Peel dip on the morning of the race.
Please inform the organisers if you have done the dip when you register. Refreshments and prize presentation in the clubhouse after the race.
A few of us are having a recce over the New Year’s Day course on Sunday, starting from St Johns FC at 09:30. The recce will take the form of a very low-key handicap race with the slowest starting first and (hopefully!) everyone finishing together.
